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Rod Stewart performs for Queen

Rod Stewart has performed for the Queen at the Festival of Remembrance in honour of Britain's war dead.

The Queen was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for the televised event at the Royal Albert Hall which was watched by thousands - including the Prime Minister and his wife Samantha, and Labour leader Ed Miliband and his wife Justine.

Stewart was billed alongside Alexandra Burke, Russell Watson and the Military Wives who performed with former X Factor contestant Jonjo Kerr who is a private with the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.

Wearing a fetching checked suit, Stewart, described as "one of the world's most popular entertainers" by host Huw Edwards, belted out Auld Lang Syne moving the entire audience to cross their arms and hold hands for the traditional dance.

At one point during the night when bright sparklers lit up the auditorium, the Queen, who was wearing a shimmering dress with black lace on top teamed with a pearl necklace, could be seen smiling widely.

When members of various forces made their way out to the centre stage, Prince Philip and the Queen appeared to chat animatedly about what was unfolding in front of them.

The Queen even leaned forward to see over the balcony to get a better look at the servicemen and servicewomen as they made their way out on to the stage - a group that included Olympians Heather Stanning, Pete Reed and Paralympian Derek Derenalagi.

Dressed in a figure-hugging blue gown, X Factor winner Burke sang a duet with classical singer Watson, while Edwards introduced Kerr and the Military Wives by saying it was "also the turn of the husbands". As the choir and Kerr sang, images from soldiers' personal family albums were beamed on to two big screens.

Other royal guests at the event included the Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of York, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Michael of Kent.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are unable to attend any of the events this weekend in Britain as they are in Australia and New Zealand on a Jubilee tour, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were also not present, but are expected at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

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